After my tweet about
#Query
Letters I received many DMs. Is shocking how many
#screenwriters
dont know how or havent tried to query.
So it's 🧵 time!
Disclaimer: Theres no ONE right way to query! These are just MY tips/advice as someone who's read thousands & written hundreds...
I once got into a heated argument with a client when I told him that having 7 rapes in one script was 6-7 too many. He said fine ... 4 then. 😔. As a script consultant who has read over 8000+ scripts, I cannot tell you the alarming number that contained rape.
@abbygov
I took out $49,000 in student loans. Over the last 14 years, I have paid over $36,000 back. I now only owe $56,000!
When people ask "why should student loans be forgiven" - IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE PAID THEM OFF ALREADY AND THEY STILL WON'T DIE!!
Screenwriters in 2021:
I wrote the script, bought the underlying IP, created an interactive pitch deck, have an A-List actor & 50% financing!
Studios: It's too early for us.
Screenwriters in 1998:
I got 2 words - Ghost. Shark.
Studios: Would u like ur million in cash or cocaine?
6 Die From Vaping
The President: We need to ban e-cigarettes!
40,000 Die From Gun Violence
The President: What we need is more guns!
I guess Big Tobacco was late with their bribes this month.
#GunControlNow
#NeverForget
#VapeBan
Love Rachel Maddow for introducing Amber Rose as an OnlyFans model and ex gf of antisemitic rapper Kanye West. She has no idea that the audience she's speaking to about parenting thinks she's unfit to be one.
Lemme get this straight - $70,000 is low income in LA but you have to make under $25,000 a year to qualify for ANY kind of benefits. So, everyone in the middle - which is the majority of LA - is just... fucked without options or help.
Advice like "Just go make a movie" is like saying, "Just go write the best script anyone's ever read" ...What, like it's hard?! As if iPhones, editing software, a Crew, craft services, film fest submissions & everything else is just FREE & takes no time at all! Ughhh.
For the past 5+ years, every exec has asked for an A-list director attachment or secondarily, an actor with some “juice” plus extensive pitch materials in order for them to even consider buying something. Prior to that, you could sell an idea off a logline and a 20-minute pitch.
Raphael Warnock is a happily married PASTOR. Hershel Walker is a wife-beating brain dead abortionist who has forced at least 2 women into having abortions & doesnt even see his kids. 88% of Evangelicals voted for Walker. EXPLAIN THIS INSANITY. Fucking hypocrites.
Ok I'm turning off notifications on this now. But if you're a writer, u have a duty to your readers, audiences, and the story. And ur duty to your story is to make it something people want to read... not something they actively avoid. And I'm here to give u notes to help w/that!
Omg my new neighbor in the building next door right outside my bedroom window, is on his balcony talking about the new screenplay he's writing. I want to yell out, "I can help with your 2nd act problems!" Lol.
This is living in LA.
On
#Loglines
, here's my basic template I suggest & teach:
When/After THIS (inciting incident) occurs, THIS PROTAG (use adjective & profession/place in world) must ACTIVE VERB THIS (goal) before/or else THIS occurs (stakes/intimation of climax).
& Infuse tone w word choice.
Apparently all of
@ATT
@Uverse
and Direct TV just went dark in Los Angeles on ABC, ESPN and all of their stations!! RIGHT in the middle of the
@usopen
!! Are you kidding me right now??? FIX THIS YOU GREEDY F*CKS.
To whomever needs to hear this - If you're writing a 30 minute sitcom and it isn't funny, you can't just call it a Dramedy to avoid doing rewrites.
#screenwriting
Can someone just f*cking tell me if Gillian Anderson was always British and we never knew or if she has totally Madonna'd herself for the last decade and we've just accepted it??
#Writers
- These are GREAT scripts you should read & learn from:
Michael Clayton
The Ice Storm
Ex-Machina
Her
Chinatown
American Beauty
Little Miss Sunshine
Nightcrawler
Prisoners
The Matrix
Basic Instinct
500 Days of Summer
Inside Out
Usual Suspects
Sixth Sense
Social Network
I'm thankful for the days i spent making shit money as an assistant in Hollywood. Without having learned how to live on no money at 23, how would I know how to live on no money now at 38?
#PayUpHollywood
Netflix paid...
Ryan Murphy $300M
Kenya Barris $100M+
Shonda Rhimes $150M+
Benioff & Weiss $200M
The
#1
Trending Show on
@netflix
is a sitcom by Mindy Kaling about an Indian Teen.
It beat both Ryan & Kenya's new shows. The other megadeals havent made anything yet. Just sayin.
With the Blacklist, I wanna point out... Over 375 Execs were surveyed & the Top vote getter got 32 votes. That means the MOST liked (unproduced) script in Hwood was still only chosen by 9% of the execs. So stop worrying that EVERYONE wont like ur script. You only need 1.
A writer asked me to read his script, made up a Screenwriting Contest & said they won, not thinking I'd look it up & discover there's NO such contest, no website, no announcement, nada. Writers - dont fucking do that. Especially when your "script" is 32 pgs & not in format. Liar.
Emerging TV Writers need to remember that most TV series have an entire staff of experienced & smart pro writers working together to come up w/the best jokes, ideas & stories - the fact that ur pilots are supposed to be just as good or better to break in, is an unfair expectation
Hardest part of being a pre-wga TV writer (besides seeing what the biz is like rn) is the expectation that u need to write an original pilot thats just as good as one thats been outlined, broken, written & rewritten by a staff of 8 pro writers. Then do it again. Just to break in.
Writers always ask what the Key to a great script is, or the Key to breaking in... And they're really the same answer:
The right concept & hook told through the right characters written by the right writer at the right time that illicits the right emotions.
The number of pre-WGA writers who have been trying to break in for years who seem genuinely worried that Spielberg & Netflix are finally going to call them 3 days after the Strike begins and they'll have some huge dilemma to face... is hilarious & staggering. Chill y'all.
Find an actor u think is gonna be a huge star one day but isn't yet. Get your script to them. Make a great impression. Then wait. It may be a long wait - but so is everything. It will pay off. Actors love to work with people who truly believed in them before they were big stars!
Sydney Sweeney auditioned for horror film ‘IMMACULATE’ in 2014, but the project never materialised.
Years later, she took on the role of a producer and reached out to the writer, acquired and revised the script, hired a director, found financiers, and sold the film to Neon.
When you see The Grove trending and your first thought is - oh god, please dont let it be a shooting! (It's not)
I hate this place. Not The Grove. I love the Grove. I hate the rest of this place.
I dunno who needs to hear this, but... GET A CONTRACT.
They wanna shop ur script? CONTRACT.
They wanna option it?
CONTRACT.
Wanna write a script based on an idea you & ur friend talked about once so they can pitch it?
CONTRACT.
Co-Writing a one-off script w/someone new?
CONTRACT.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but y'all need to stop naming every single production company that requests to read your script, asks for a general mtg, hears a pitch, etc. Naming them on Twitter is not gonna make them wanna work with u. Until a thing is a thing, keep it vague.
#Fitness
Update! Despite some rough days the past wk, Ive officially Lost 50lbs!! It's the most I ever lost (at 1 time) in my life! Im back to 2015 weight! Down 3 Pant Sizes, almost 2 shirt sizes & 1 1/2" of neck. All I see is how much More there is to lose but I feel human again
@Newsweek
What a shitty headline. You say this about the Big Bang Theory guys or Friends cast when they scored ONE MILLION an episode?? Or did you applaud them??
Everyone talks about Shonda, Ryan, Greg, and Dick. But
@martinoxon
currently has FIVE TV Series on the air!! AND unlike the aforementioned "mega producers," all 5 of her shows are on DIFFERENT Networks & are completely diff from each other!! Why arent we all talkin bout her?!
When someone says "I'm looking to collaborate on this script," what I HEAR is, "I'm looking for someone to write my idea for Free exactly as I picture it because im too lazy to learn how to write myself."
Hey, Aspiring Comedy Writers - youre attempting the hardest thing to write & youre doing it alone. Sitcoms have staffs of 10 offering joke ideas, films are rewritten by 5 diff writers & bring in roundtables for punchups. So dont get down on urself for not being hilarious on Day 1
With all the crap about
#contests
going on, heres a reminder of the ones that matter most:
Nicholl
Austin Film Fest
Final Draft Big Break
PAGE Awards
Sundance/Slam
Script Pipeline
Scriptapalooza
Screencraft Fellowship
Tracking Board/Launchpad
TrackingB
Cinestory
Stage32/BLoodlist
Top 5 Most Common Opening Scene/Visuals I Dont Wanna Read Again:
1. Person wakin up & gettin ready for work/school
2. Running thru woods away from something unseen
3. Description of Clouds, Trees, Sun or dumb landscape
4. Shot of Earth from space
5. Man sits in work cubicle bored
25,000 people attended the Stage32 Netflix webinar today. Do u know how insane that is? For some context, most one-off live webinars get under 250. Virtual AFF got like 8K. The virtual Screencraft event last yr got like 12K. 25K!?! Hope ur pilot's good - ya got some competition!
I have watched since Day 1.
I have seen every episode.
I have never missed one. Ever.
I have rewatched the first 8 seasons 2x.
I am begging you... end this goddamn show. There are 3 characters left worth watching and I just need it to end.
Hey Writers - how many of you would be interested in doing a weekend retreat/workshop outside of LA with ME and an Academy Award Winning Screenwriter as we workshopped your script/idea or pitch?
I've been quiet here bc its been a rough, emotional week. I ended my 2+ yr relationship on Nov 1. It sucks, but choices have consequences & it needed to be done. Its been hard to focus & work but i dont get the luxury of taking time off to process it all. I'm doin ok tho 💔.
Writers - I'm seeing a lot of writer fatigue & mental breaks right now. Understandable! Im def feeling it myself. But Hollywood will pretty much be on Vacation after Thanksgiving. So we got ONE month to keep pushing, writing, submitting, working. Stay focused. U can do it!
I'm in a group of high level writers & lemme tell ya, every one of them is working on multiple multiple projects. None have less than 3-4 things cooking at once & in diff mediums. So if ur taking 9 mos to write that ONE pilot sample, it's not enuf in this shitty time for writers.
Soo you're telling me
@Netflix
has cancelled Glow, Teenage Bounty Hunters, Away, I Am Not Okay With This, The Dark Crystal, Kominsky Method, The Society, Dark, & Mindhunters and theres only 1 season left of Dead to Me, Ozark & Atypical...but RATCHED has a 2 season order!? UGHH!
Two of my friends had babies this week. One of my friends just announced shes pregnant. 2 friends just bought a house. 1 friend just sold a TV show.
I ate a pretty good sandwich on thursday.
As someone currently writing notes on scripts that are 126, 135 & 164 pgs...DONT do this. If u think audiences want this, they dont. If u think readers like this, they dont. If u think u cant cut 10 pgs, you can. There isnt ONE film over 2h30m that couldnt've been 10mins shorter.
Had a great mtg this morning with UK producers on an amazing project im consulting on (again)! It's written by one of my mentees & got optioned! Now they're bringing me on to help shephard their notes into new drafts. We already made it a great script. Now we make it a movie!
Just found out - A THIRD client of mine just won
@austinfilmfest
!! Woohoo!!
3 Winners in 6 Years. Boy, it's almost like I'd be a good resource to speak to writers in some sort of forum designed to help them succeed...
When folks say 'Dont write Camera Direction in scripts', they dont mean things like "we see" "insert" or POVs. They mean specific cam movement/shots. Tilt Up, Whip Pan Left, Dolly Zoom, Medium CloseUp, Extreme Wide Shot etc. Paint the picture without describing each brush stroke.
If you live in LA, i dont understand why youre stockpiling groceries. The storm is supposed to be gone by lunchtime on monday. Am i missing something?
#HurricaneHilary
Havin a bad week & tryin to stay positive, so-
In 2021:
1. I lost 57lbs & 3 pant sizes. Still goin.
2. Im in a real relationship for 1st time in a decade.
3. Paid off lotsa debt & didnt use a creditcard til Nov.
4. Celebrated 12yrs running No BullScript & mentorships filled fast!
Let me say this - If your ONLY interest is screenwriting & thats ALL you do morning noon & night & u dont pay attention to the world outside... you'll have a hard time getting staffed. Ideas in the room come from people w/outside lives, interests, stories, passions, opinions, etc
A lot of writers seem to be apoplectic over not making QFs of a contest. If ur this angry over not being Top 50 out of 5500, you're REALLY not gonna like that only about 100 spec scripts sell every year out of 60,000 registered. Contests are subjective. But so is everything else.
I'm hereby launching my new Screenwriting Contest... C.A.T. Where scripts will be read, judged and notes given solely by my Cat. And the winner gets to be pet by a human. While my cat steals your idea.
#ScreenwritingTwitter
Here's the deal... if you wanna be a total asshole and still succeed as a writer, you can. You just have to be a TRULY GREAT fucking writer! But I've read a lot of you. You cant afford to be an asshole.
Being a writing machine is great. But being a writing, rewriting, polishing, brainstorming, outlining, querying, pitching, hustling, networking, selling machine is what you need to be to have a longterm career.
Another "producer" reached out to one of my clients on social media offering to attach himself to his script for the low low price of $4K! NEVER PAY a producer to be attached to your project! They pay you, not the other way around.
Just read script didnt have any punctuation or possessive pronouns or adverbs if you think that easy how is sentence going in eyes now it isnt a good time for read and 100 pages of words without comma or periods about nazi cannibals is how i spend nights and go crazy fade out
Wanna know how to find the producer, manager, agent, financier, etc thats right for u or ur projects? Keep a list. Google doc. Excel. Whatever. Read the trades & notate what companies are buying what, who reps the writer, whos financing & what their mandate is. Knowledge is power
I didnt want to post it until I got confirmation from 3 different scales, but even after a few good cheat meals last wknd in vegas, I have still lost 37lbs since May 30th!! Back to what I was at end of 2016! Still dont think it looks it yet, but i trust the scales.
#fitnessat40
Just came up with a great line of dialogue. Now i just need an idea and a script to put it in. Anyone else just think of great random lines of dialogue while talking to yourself outloud? Or just me?
Some MORE good news! My mentee Martin Bartlett who had a film made last year just got his 2ND SCRIPT greenlit!! Production starts in Oct! BOTH were projects we worked on in the mentorships. No BullScript is set to have FOUR client films go into production this year still! Wooo!
I'm going to put together a VERY low cost Live Online Class thru Zoom. Probably in 2 weeks. Stay tuned. I'd like to cover a few topics, likely Pitching & Marketing Strategies for Your Script. If you'd be interested in this AND would pay $10 for this, Like this tweet. Be honest.
Some shitty news to end 2020...My sister's 43yo fiancee has Covid & is pretty sick. He got sick Monday. Now my Niece who turns 7 in 2 wks also has Covid & had migraines & cough all nite but is doing OK. My sister will likely test pos on Mon. Praying they get better quick! Ugh.
The amount of time I spend with my writers just fixing other people's really bad notes that they took to heart and totally changed what they originally had... is staggering.
Jesus... I'm officially 40! Oy.
I know it's not about the number, it's about if you feel accomplished and where you're supposed to be at this point in your life. But that makes me feel even worse so Fuck it, it's about the number...
I apologize for the lack of screenwriting related tweets the last few days and the next few days, but the world is on fire, my city is up in arms, and honestly, there really are more important things than screenwriting sometimes...
@everythingloria
Dropping in here to say I got my first staff job at 46. Was showrunning five years later. Last year I hired four writers who’d never staffed before, two were over fifty